Try-cock fob steam-boilers



1. CUMMING.

e .Water Gage for Steam Boilers. y

No. 25,310. Patented ocr. 18, '1859.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES CUMMING, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

TRY-COCK FOR STEAM-BOILERS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 25,810, dated October 18, 1859.

To all whom t may Aconcern-.-

Be it known that I, JAMES OUMMING, of Boston, in the county of Suolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Steam-Boiler Try- Cocks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1, is a side elevation of a steam boiler with my improved try-cock applied to it. Fig. 2, is an end view of the same. Fig. 3, is a vertical longitudinal section of the same, and Fig. 4, is a horizontal section.

Similar letters of reference, in each of the several figures indicate corresponding parts.

It has been customary heretofore, to employ a series of try cocks in the end of a boiler, said cocks respectively indicating, by squirting water, the different heights of the water in the boiler and thus enabling a careful engineer to keep the water at a proper or safe level.

The nature of my invention consists in the combination, with an ordinary cock of a hollow tube having a turning axis and extending through the end or side of the boiler and at certain periods remaining elevated above the level of the water, but capable of being brought below the same whenever necessary, as hereinafter described.

By my invention, I am not only enabled to accomplish with a single try cock all that is accomplished with a series of try cocksapplied in the ordinary manner-but also to try within the intermediate space generally existing between such series of cocks; for, by simply elevating the outer end of the tube with the hand and opening the try cock, I can ascertain the exact height of water in the boiler, for at the moment the inner end of the tube is brought into the water, or below the level of the same, the water will squirt out through it and the engineer by casting his eye up to the indicator will be informed as to the facts in the case.

To enable others, skilled in the art, to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A, represents a steam-boiler of ordinary construction.

B, is a metallic plate fastened on the end of the boiler; through this plate an oblong or V shaped opening a, is made, said opening matching an oblong V shaped opening b,

in the boiler. The opening a, enlarges and forms a semi-circular seat c, at the front of the plate, as represented in Figs. l, 3 and 4. Into the seat c, a cylindrical hollow axis C, is fitted with a ground joint, and through this axis and the opening in the plate and boiler, a hollow tube D, passes, as shown in Fig. 3, said tube being open at the end which enters the boiler and closed with a screw cap CZ, at its outer end, as shown.

e, is a passage in one side of the tube, this passage matches the bore of the hollow axis, as shown in Fig. 3, by full black lines, and in Fig. 4 by dotted lines. The cap of the tube is pointed so as to serve as a pointer to a dial plate D', arranged in proper relation to it, said plate being marked with words or characters such as are commonly used to indicate high and low or safe and dangerous levels of the water in the boiler.

E, is a try-cock, one end of which is inserted into the bore of the hollow axis, as shown in Figs. 4.

F, is a fiat spring for retaining the hollow axis in proper position and thus preventing the tube from falling into the water when no force is applied to the outer end of the tube. This spring is made light enough to allow of the axis and tube being turned with the hand from the position shown in black to the position shown in red, but is sufficiently strong to return and hold the axis and tube in the position shown in black after the height of the water has been ascertained.

G, is a fiat vane or feeler for indicating to the engineer when the tube first strikes the water. This vane by having a broad surface horizontally will meet with more resistance from the water than the tube would and consequently the engineer will know the moment the tube is about to squirt and thus be enabled to get out of the way of the hot water.

From the above description of parts, it will be seen that if it is desired to try the height of water in the boiler, all that has to be done is to open the try cock and apply the hand to the indicating or outer end of the tube and then pull the same down until water begins to squirt out of the cock, as illustrated by arrows in Fig. 4. The water having squirted, the engineer only has to cast his eye to the dial plate and notice the position of the pointer in order to know if the water stands at a safe or dangerous level.

In case the tube becomes clogged or ing through the end or side of the boiler stopped With sediment or from other cause and at certain periods remaining elevated the screw cap at the end of the tube can be above the level of the Water, but capable of removed and acleansing Wire forced through being broughtl below the same, Whenever 15 the tube and all obstruction removed. necessary, substantially as and for the pur- What Ibclsilm as ny invention and desire poses set forth. to secure y etters atent is- The combination With an yordinary try JAMES CUMMING cock E, of a straight hollow tube D, moving Witnesses: vertically on axis C and Which is also the GOODWIN Y. Afr LEE, indicator at its outer closed end, and eXtend- H. AMIDON. 

